23/10/2023

We are deeply shocked at the horrendous attack carried out on the night of 17 October into the Al Ahli hospital, in the besieged Gaza Strip, which led to the death of 471 people^[1], including children, health care staff, and Internally Displaced People (IDPs), being the deadliest incident in Gaza since hostilities escalated. Earlier that day, an attack on a UNRWA school left six casualties and dozens injured.

These attacks take place against the backdrop of unprecedented hostilities, including an Israeli-imposed siege that has completely cut off over 2.3 million Palestinian residents of the Strip, half of whom are children, of water, food, fuel, and electricity. We recall that, as the occupying Power, Israel has the legal duty to ensure that the basic needs of the population of Gaza are met, notably food, medical supplies, and other basic goods needed to allow the population to live under adequate material conditions^[2]. Accordingly, we call on the international community to undertake all political and diplomatic efforts needed to ensure an immediate ceasefire, the lift of the siege, and unimpeded humanitarian access to provide life-saving assistance and protection to civilians currently trapped in Gaza with no safe place to go.

The targeting of UN and civilian infrastructures, including medical facilities and schools has no justification and amounts to serious violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) that qualify as war crimes. We recall that the international community as a whole has the obligation to ensure the respect and implementation of IHL, including by holding to account those responsible for its breaches through internationally established mechanisms and domestic jurisdictions as applicable. Accordingly, we call on the international community to condemn the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and to ensure accountability for all breaches of IHL by any party anywhere.

Moreover, we condemn in the strongest terms the Israeli attack against journalists covering the hostilities on the Southern border of Lebanon on 13 October , which led to the death of Lebanese journalist Issam Abdallah and injured 6 others. We demand accountability for Issam’s killing. Furthermore, we denounce the use by Israel, documented by Human Rights Watch^[3], of internationally prohibited^[4] white phosphorus artillery on Lebanese and Palestinian territories.

As hostilities in Lebanon escalate, having already led to significant displacement, we are concerned by the risk of a deeper humanitarian crisis that would have devastating effects on a country that is already struggling to cope with multiple crippling crises. We call on the Government of Lebanon to ensure the effective protection of Lebanon’s population, and we reaffirm our readiness and commitment to continue supporting all people in need of assistance and protection in line with the humanitarian imperative.

Finally, we stand in solidarity with Palestinians in occupied Gaza, the West Bank including East Jerusalem, and the rest of historical Palestine, as well as with those living as refugees in Lebanon and across the region. We call for a just and durable political solution that will put an end to the ongoing suffering and will ensure the dignity and freedom of all, including the rights of Palestinians to self-determination in line with previous UN resolutions.

Signatories: 

ABAAD

Alternative Press Syndicate – Lebanon

Amel Association International (Amel)

Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND)

Banin Charity Association

Cedar Centre for Legal Studies (CCLS)

Development for People and Nature Association (DPNA) 

Insan Association-Defending Human Rights

Justice Without Frontiers

LABAN “Live Lactic Culture”

Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH)

Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Migration Services and Development (MSD)

Mouvement Social الحركة الاجتماعية 

Naba’a

NAHNOO

Proud Lebanon

Tafaol Association جمعية تفاؤل

UTOPIA